Condiment shaker top



April 25, 1939- M. c. T. LEWIS CONDIMENT SHAKER TOP Filed April 14, 1938 mamewz'a Patented Apr. 25, 1939 i Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONDIMENT SHAKER TOP Miles C. Thomas Lewis, San Francisco, Calif. Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,053

3 Claims. (01. 65-45) This invention relates to improvements inkitchsalient features of the invention as expressed in en and table articles and pertains particularly to the appended claims.

an improved top structure for a condiment con- In the drawing: tainer. Fig. l is a view in side elevation of the shaker The present invention is directed primarily to embodying the present invention;

the construction of an improved combined salt Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line and pepper shaker and has for its principal ob- 2-2 of Fig. 1; ject to provide an improved and novel type of Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 top for such shaker which may be readily adof Fig. 2;

1c justed to either of two positions to facilitate the Fig. 4 is a view in top plan of the shaker; removal of either of the condiments contained Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

in the shaker body, the construction of the top Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the rotatable being such that the adjustment thereof for the part of the top per se, showing means for fapurpose of obtaining one condiment automaticilitating expansion of the same.

cally efiects the closing of the outlet portion for Referring now more particularly to the draw- 15 the other condiment so that only one of the two ing, the numeral 8 generally designates the body' condiments may be shaken out at a time. of the shaker embodying the present invention,

Another object of the invention is to provide which body may be of glass or any other suita shaker of the above described character in able material and is provided with the longitudiwhich the top structure which is adjustable to nally extending partition wall 2, so that the 20 facilitate the removal of either of two substances, body is divided into the two chambers 3 and 4 is designed in a novel manner which prevents for salt and pepper or for any other two condithe accumulation of either of the condiments ments which it is desired to use in the shaker. around the outlet of the top so that when salt The body of the shaker is provided at its hotis used in one of the compartments of the shaker, tom with a removable bottom cap 5 and separate it will not collect and deliquesce upon the outer closures 6 for each of the chambers 3 and 4, surface of the top and bring about a corrosion which closures are maintained in position by of the parts of the top when such parts are formed the cap 5 and an interposed coiled spring I which of metal. is pressed by the cap against the closure ele- Still another object of the invention is to proments 6. Further description of the details of 30 vide an improved salt and pepper shaker havthis portion of the condiment container is set ing separate discharge areas for the two subforth in my co-pending application filed of even stances, in which a rotary cap is provided which date herewith, in which the claims are directed has a single opening which is adapted to be particularly to the features of this bottom conbrought into registry with either of the discharge struction.

areas and which is so desigined that as it is ro- The top part of the receptacle or body I is tated it will scrape loose any of the two subopen, as shown, and is adapted to be covered by stances which may have adhered to the outside the detachable head or cap unit which is indisuriace of the supporting part for the rotar cated as a whole by the numeral 8 and which concap so that the rotary cap automatically is kept sists of the two Portions 9 and the P o 9 40 clean. being fixed while the portion I0 is rotatable A still further object of the invention is to thereonprovide a novel condiment shaker in which novel The body is i l taPered t means is provided for detachably securing the bottom to the top, as 5 Own, and is provided with from which project two knobshaker top to the body of the shaker. t recessed area H The invention be best understood from hke protuberances l2 and above these protubera consideration of the iollowin g detailed descripances the body 15 provldd with the enclrcling ring-like depression or groove l3. tion taken in connection with the accompany- The fixed portion of the cap 9 is in the form ing drawing forming part of this specification,

with the understanding, however, that the inven- 8i;- gggigg f gg ggi zg fi ggg 31. 3%: 50 tion is not confined to any strict conformity with facilitate this action, this cylindrical part of the the Showing of the drawing but y be changed cap is provided with the slits M which extend or modified so long as such changes or modiflfrom the lower edge throughout the major porcations mark no material departure from the tion of the extent of the sleeve so that the diam- 55 eter of the sleeve may be slightly enlarged to permit it to pass over the protuberances I 2 which are designed to engage in depressions I5 formed in the inner surface of the sleeve. By this means, the cylindrical portion of the cap is retained in position. Inwardly of the free end of the fixed cylindrical portion 9 of the cap, the latter is provided with the'impressed rib l6 which forms a rib on the inner surface which engages in the groove I3 and an encircling groove or depression on the outer surface for coaction with the rotary part l0 of the cap.

The fixed cylindrical sleeve portion 9 has a top wall ll through which are formed at diametrically opposite points the groups of apertures 22, each of which groups is located over the end of one of the chambers of the receptacle when the sleeve 9 is in position thereon.

The rotary cap portion i0 comprises the top plate H which is flat to lie upon the top wall I! of the sleeve and a skirt portion 20 which encircles the part of the sleeve 9 from and above the rib IS. The lower edge of this skirt portion is pressed in to form the lip 2| which engages in 'the depression at the outer side of the rib l6,

as shown, and which serves to prevent removing the rotary part III of the cap but which permits this part to be turned on the sleeve 9.

The top plate I!) of the rotary portion of the cap is provided with an opening l8 which merges with a recess 23 of the same width as the opening and which is formed across and through the entire width of the skirt portion 20. This opening I8 is of the proper size to completely uncover either of the two groups of apertures 22 and thus it will be seen that when the portion III of the shaker top is turned, it may be brought into either of two positions to facilitate the discharge of the contents of either of the chambers 3 and 4. By providing the skirt recess 23, when the salt containing portion of the shaker is used, the salt particles which may adhere to the cap will not have any underlying flanges upon which to fall so as to cause corrosion, but will drop down free of the cap, and any which fail to drop away will be scraped free by the edges of the recess 23 as the portion III of the cap is turned.

The rotary part H! of the top, in addition to having the recess 23 in the skirt thereof, is provided with a slit 24 to insure the proper diametrical enlargement of this part with the cylinder 9 when the latter is forced down over the top of the body I, so that the attachment of the top to the body may be conveniently accomplished.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the condiment shaker herein described in addition to providing a handy means for serving from one receptacle both salt and pepper or any other two condiments, also provides a novel cap structure which may be easily and quickly removed for cleaning when necessary and which will serve to a great extent due to its novel construction, to keep itself clean as a result of the turning of the rotary portion thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A condiment container, comprising a receptacle body having an open top, a cylindrical sleeve insertible over the open top and having a top wall covering the open top of the receptacle, said sleeve top wall having a group of outlet apertures therethrough, coacting means between the araaeoe wall of the receptacle and the wall of the sleeve for retaining the sleeve in position on the receptacle, and a rotary cap carried by the sleeve and having a top wall and a skirt portion, said cap skirt portion encircling and snugly receiving a portion of said sleeve, the top of said rotary portion having an opening coinciding in size with the group of apertures and said skirt portion having engagement with the sleeve facilitating the turning of the rotary portion but preventing the separation of the rotary and sleeve portions, the said skirt portion of the rotary portion of the cap having a longitudinal opening therethrough which merges with the opening in the top thereof and the edges of the opening of the skirt portion closely engaging the surface of the underlying sleeve and operating to maintain the adjacent surface of the sleeve free of adhering condiment.

2. A condiment receptacle, comprising a hollow body having an open end and having a partition dividing the body into two chambers, a cylindrical sleeve adapted to receive said open end of the body and having an end wall disposed across said body end, interlocking means between the sleeve and the body for detachably holding the sleeve on the body, said sleeve having an encircling groove between said means and said wall, and said wall having two groups of apertures each arranged to overlie one of said chambers, and a rotary cap providing a top plate portion and a straight skirt portion, said plate portion being designed to lie upon said wall and said skirt portion encircling the part of the sleeve between the wall and said groove, and an inturned tongue at the free edge of said skirt portion engaging in said groove to retain the cap against removal from the cylinder but permitting the rotation of the cap on the cylinder, said plate having a single opening therein designed for selective disposition over the said groups of apertures, and said sleeve and skirt each having a longitudinal slit facilitating the diametrical enlargement of both to facilitate their application to the receptacle.

3. A condiment receptacle, comprising a hollow body having an open end and having a parti tion dividing the body into two chambers, a cylindrical sleeve adapted to receive said open end of the body and having an end wall disposed across said body end, interlocking means between the sleeve and the body for detachably holding the sleeve on the body, said sleeve having an encircling groove between said means and said wall and said wall having two groups of apertures each arranged to overlie one of said chambers, and a rotary cap providing a top plate portion and a skirt portion, said plate portion being designed to lie upon said wall and said skirt portion encircling the part of the sleeve between the wall and said groove, and an inturned tongue at the free edge of said skirt portion engaging in said groove to retain the cap against removal from the cylinder but permitting the rotation of the cap on the cylinder, saidJilate having a single opening therein designed for selective disposition over the said groups of apertures and said skirt having a longitudinal slot extending from the free edge to the plate and merging with said opening, the edges of said recess lying in close proximity to the skirt enclosing part of the cylinder.

MILES C. THOMAS LEWIS. 

